In May, it will be five years since James Wilson, 18 at the time, stunned Old Trafford with two goals on his debut against Hull City. But this summer the striker will leave Manchester United, ending an association with the club that began when he was a young boy.
With Wilson looking to join a new club there is reported to be a lot of interest. According to a reliable Preston North End Instagram page, North End are interested in the signature of Wilson.
Wilson was released by Manchester Unites rhi summer. The forward was among a raft of players, which included Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera, as well as former St Johnstone and St Mirren midfielder Matty Willock, on the club’s confirmed released list.
Wilson was plucked from the academy by Ryan Giggs after the Welshman was named caretaker-manager in the wake of David Moyes’ sacking in 2014. Two weeks later, he was thrown in at the deep end against Hull and it took him just 31 minutes to become the fourth-youngest United player to score in the Premier League. By the time he was substituted for Robin van Persie just after the hour mark he had scored another, this time in front of the Stretford End, in a 3-1 win.
Wilson has been on loan at Aberdeen since August, he has scored four times — including a stunning 30-yard strike in a 3-0 win over Hamilton in October — and played in a narrow Scottish League Cup final defeat to Celtic in December. He’d chosen Aberdeen, currently third in the Scottish Premiership behind Celtic and Rangers, to “get out of his comfort zone” and put himself in the shop window ahead of a possible permanent move in the summer.
